A huge thank you to Kelly Flanagan Oliven & Kent Oliven for providing local birders an opportunity to see and photograph a “vagrant” species of bird that hails from the Pacific Northwest, a male, Varied Thrush, which has found a welcome refuge at their home.
Kathy had suggested that we arrive at 8:00 am because they normally put out food in the morning, and once other birds begin to feed, the Varied Thrush would usually follow. However, shortly after we arrived at their home, an impediment to potential viewing of the thrush came in the form of two Cooper’s Hawks, which made swoops near the house. One Cooper’s, perched in a tree just across from the house and sat persistently for over 90 minutes! Between the cold and the Cooper’s many of the birders who had gathered and waited for a long time gave up and left.
However, luck was with the few who remained, when a gentleman from Peoria who had decided to head home started to slowly turn the corner in his car. He and another man who had been walking up and down the road, suddenly spotted the illusive bird perched on a low branch in a stand of evergreen trees just east of where everyone had focused all their attention! Shortly after the discovery, a second group of late arriving birders began to gather and together, all those who were there had the joy of sharing the sighting of the Varied Thrush and were able to photograph it!
Later, my husband and I headed to OPG to look for a Snowy Owl and North Harriers that two ladies in the group had just come from observing. Luck held and those of us who traveled there were not disappointed. The Snowy was still present, sitting in a depression near some snow-covered mounds of soil. One Northern Harrier glided quite near the Snowy causing all of us to gasp, but it changed course, leaving the owl in peace. To thrill us more, a coyote trotted across the field not seeming to notice us. Last, but not least a Kestrel flew into view, hovering in the air as if it had pressed a pause button!
What a great day with a fine bunch of birders from far and near and two lifers for my husband and I!
Loading contexts...
